SPF Myths Cracked

It’s safe to say that most people enjoy basking in the warm glow of the sun. And basking safely in that golden glow is an important consideration. If you’ve ever left a day at the beach looking more like a lobster than a person, you probably understand the importance of good sun protection. But with as many options for sunscreen as sand on the beach, how do you know what to look for to protect your skin? Should you just grab the bottle with the highest SPF? With summer right around the corner, we decided to separate the facts from the fiction when it comes to all things SPF.

SPF is just a number

The SPF in sunscreen literally means – sun protection factor. And while the number of SPF in sunscreen indicates a certain level of protection, a higher SPF doesn’t necessarily mean you can set it and forget it. The real key to good sun protection is to reapply it every 2 hours.

Any old sunscreen will do

Ok, some protection is better than none at all. But read the labels on your sunscreen and look for full spectrum products. These products protect your skin from the largest range of UV rays.

If you’re already dark, you don’t need sunscreen

It’s true that melanin in darker skinned people can diffuse UVB rays to some extent. But it doesn’t protect the skin completely and you still should use a full spectrum sunscreen to prevent skin cancer and other damage caused by the sun.

If you use sunscreen, you won’t tan

Even if you apply sunscreen many times while soaking up the sun, you can still get tan. If you don’t want to tan, using physical UV protection by covering up is more effective than sunscreen.

Sunscreen lasts forever

That last bit of sunscreen in the closet that expired 2 years ago? Throw it out. Sunscreen does expire and will lose its effectiveness. Don’t be tempted to use expired sunscreen. Your skin will thank you.

Protecting your skin and enjoying the sun is not an impossible task if you are diligent about making sunscreen a necessity, not an option. After all, why take chances with the only skin you’ve got? And if you’re passionate about skincare in general, you should check out the beauty and wellness programs at Daytona College! Daytona is helping students launch exciting careers with hands-on training in Cosmetology, Natural Health, and a Full Specialist with Spa Services program. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our campus.